In Honor/Memory of Monica A. Evans

On January 15, KNC lost one of its stalwarts: Monica Evans, 89, who passed away at Borgess Place in Kalamazoo. For generations of members, staff and visitors, Monica was synonymous with the Nature Center. Monica served KNC as an executive assistant, archivist, writer, treasurer and avid birder and left an indelible mark on the organization. Along with Renee Kivikko and good friend and former KNC co-worker Connie Ferguson, Monica co-authored "Glimpsing the Whole," the authoritative history of KNC. The Monica A. Evans Arboretum at KNC was named in her honor. Monica was born and raised in Boston, but in the early 1950s she saw a flyer from Kalamazoo College which sought to recruit students from outside of Michigan. Monica applied and received one of K-College's first out-of-state scholarships – a decision that set her adult life on a new course. While studying for her bachelor's in biological sciences, she met Dr. Lewis Batts, then a professor. He served as her mentor, and when Dr. Batts was named as KNC's first executive director in 1961, he hired Monica as a founding staff member. After retirement, Monica continued to conduct bird feeder counts and supply copious amounts of feed to neighborhood songbirds and turkeys. She was also an avid traveler who visited all the world's continents and most of its countries. Monica's family will hold a memorial for her at KNC on Saturday, May 11. We will provide more details as they become available.